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I have been to Maui, Kauai and Big Island, and found driving around the island to be very simple and easy. I have been told from some people that Honolulu/Waikiki area is like driving around Los Angeles? I am very accustomed to driving around LA,being flipped off, and people refusing to let me in on the freeway, when my lane is about to expire. Is it that crazy in Honolulu to drive around the metropolitan areas? Does the Aloha lifestyle extend to the freeways as well?
I have only seen the bird once here, and it was a tourist in a cab who didn't like the fact that the bus stopped to avoid hitting the load that a truck accidentally dropped.
Three things make driving here different IMHO:
1: People are generally not in a hurry, patience is key. You can fight it all you want, but all you will really do is get yourself all worked up, or kill someone.
2: It takes some time to get to know the one-way roads and find efficient ways to get around.
3: Compared to L.A. freeways there is not that "gun it and stop on a dime" thing going on.
Speaking of #2...I drive 4 miles to work from Waikiki. Takes me 20 minutes, most of that is because of the number of traffic lights. I found out that on the way home, one route was 23 lights, the other 13. Took some time to figure it out, but got it wired now.
^Thanks for the heads up. I am generally a "Mr. Walker" typeof person(an old Disney reference for those who didn't get it) on the road. Usually very peaceful and laid back, and traffic doesn't bother me. I love being around people, but the LA traffic scene gets real old real fast. If I moved to Diamond Head, can I get by without a car?
What most Mainlanders complain about is getting stuck behind an elderly local on the freeway. I had a car the whole time I lived in Honolulu and was glad I did.
I have been to Maui, Kauai and Big Island, and found driving around the island to be very simple and easy. I have been told from some people that Honolulu/Waikiki area is like driving around Los Angeles? I am very accustomed to driving around LA,being flipped off, and people refusing to let me in on the freeway, when my lane is about to expire. Is it that crazy in Honolulu to drive around the metropolitan areas? Does the Aloha lifestyle extend to the freeways as well?
Driving in Honolulu isn't like driving on the other islands. Rush hour can be brutal with similarities to LA with bumper to bumper traffic depending on where you are going. People aren't flipping each other off (that I've noticed) - but we did have a road rage/accident/death a couple of days ago on the H1 freeway.
My biggest complaint isn't so much being a driver - but being a pedestrian in certain areas. At Atkinson/Ala Moana or Hobron Lane/Ala Moana it isn't any picnic crossing the street even with the walk signal. And it isn't the tourists - the taxi drivers and Roberts Hawaii busses are the worse offender - they do everything they can to beat you before you cross.
If I moved to Diamond Head, can I get by without a car?
Yes?
Complex question really. The bus system is pretty robust. In my case it takes 1 hour to get to work if I ride the bus. Any delay in the trip home cuts into my surfing time, so...I drive! There are other things to consider too, like groceries, costco runs, movies, etc. Not having a car would make that a bit more complicated of an event.
^ What if I happen to reside in Downtown? Would that make it any easier? I would like to know where the place with the highest opportunity for walking to shopping, restaurants, movies, surfing is on Oahu. Not concerned with how large the property is, but want to be where all the action is.
The congestion, obliviousness, and general disregard for the rules of the road (signals, right of way, fast lane for passing etc...) are the issues I notice. Road rage is not that much of an issue, most folks are pretty courteous (when they are paying attention).
^ What if I happen to reside in Downtown? Would that make it any easier? I would like to know where the place with the highest opportunity for walking to shopping, restaurants, movies, surfing is on Oahu. Not concerned with how large the property is, but want to be where all the action is.
Ala Moana (96814 zip code) area is where you would want to be - Ala Moana shopping center - huge mall/restaurants, Ward Center for movies/restaurants, Magic Island to surfing - all can be had walking distance for the right place.
I commute from Aiea to Downtown and its brutal because rush hour, well sucks. As compared to the Mainland though, at least here people letting you merge and change lanes is the norm, rather than the exception like it is in DC, LA, etc. But its a small island and not many arteries to get from one location to another so we are all bottlenecked onto the same few roads.
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